The Village of Plain City will receive $5 million to support upgrades to the Plain City Wastewater Treatment Facility through a statewide program to improve critical infrastructure.
Plain City was recently awarded the funding through the Ohio BUILDS (Broadband, Utilities and Infrastructure for Local Development Success) initiative to be used for the Wastewater Treatment Plant Expansion Project.
The $14 million project will increase capacity and replaces outdated equipment. Village officials said the $5 million in state funding will specifically help upgrade the existing wastewater treatment facility.
In partnership with the Mid-Ohio Water and Sewer District, the Village plans to increase the facility’s capacity from 750,000 gallons per day to 1.25 million gallons per day.
The upgrade will improve regulatory compliance and benefit 4,900 utility customers, according to a statement released by village officials.
“This grant significantly helps ease the burden of the facility upgrades on the residents of Plain City. Along with the Mid-Ohio Water and Sewer District, we extend our thanks to Governor DeWine and the Ohio Department of Development for their assistance in completing this much-needed project,” said Mayor Jody Carney.
The village previously received $1.5 million for the project from Representative Mike Carey’s office through congressional appropriations.
The Plain City project is one of 76 statewide projects receiving grants to address critical water and wastewater infrastructure needs. In total, 59 counties will receive $122.7 million.
The funding is part of the sixth round of the Ohio BUILDS Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Grant Program. This round provides $84.5 million for 43 new critical infrastructure projects and $38.2 million for 33 previously funded projects with costs exceeding initial estimates.
Since 2021, the Ohio BUILDS Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Grant Program has provided nearly $620 million to support local water projects across all of Ohio’s 88 counties.
“The investments we’ve made through this program have been transformational in many Ohio communities,” said Gov. Mike DeWine. “The projects we’re funding are about more than new pipes – they’re about protecting the health and wellbeing of Ohioans across the state.”
These grants help reduce or eliminate the financial burden on communities addressing critical infrastructure needs such as new water distribution systems, waterline extensions, water tower replacements, and new pipes and water mains.
They also fund projects to replace sanitary sewer systems, prevent sewer backups, and extend sewer lines to support economic growth.
Federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds were appropriated for BUILDS projects by the Ohio General Assembly and awarded through three rounds in October, November, and December 2021, as well as rounds in June and July 2023.
Plain City received $250,000 in grant funding through the first round of BUILDS awards to create redundancy in the village’s water distribution system.
The funds were matched by $154,000 in local funding, used for the installation of a second 10-inch water line from the village’s water treatment plant down Wesley Street and Jackson Boulevard.
The sixth round of funding was made possible through continued support in the 2023 biennium budget bill, which included more than $120 million for water infrastructure projects.
The Ohio Department of Development, which administers the program, received 703 grant applications for this round.
Applicants requested more than $1.4 billion, demonstrating the continued need for water infrastructure improvements across the state.
“Investments in our communities’ infrastructure are key to expanding sites for new businesses and housing that the people who work at these businesses will need to live and thrive,” said Lt. Gov. Jon Husted. “This program is a key part of our efforts to ensure every community has the foundation in place to improve the quality of life to make Ohio a great place to live, work, and raise a family.”
In addition to water infrastructure upgrades, Ohio BUILDS strategically invests in a broad range of projects to improve quality of life and support economic growth, such as broadband expansion, brownfield redevelopment, the demolition of blighted buildings, and more.